Massachusetts Tick Donations Now Being Accepted For Research

Research, Research, Research… the only way to find the answers is research, and now more than ever you can help when it comes to ticks and tick-borne diseases. In several posts, we have pointed you toward tickreport.com. If you have been bitten by a tick and are concerned about what diseases it might carry, this is a great resource. Send the tick in, and for a fee, they will test it and report back within 3 days. Now we’ve found a second source for sending your tick in for testing and they want them all.

Garth Ehrlich, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Drexel University’s College of Medicine, would like you to send him every tick that you can. It’s a simple process for us at home: find a tick on your clothes, pet, patio, anywhere really, place it in a small Ziploc bag with a moist cotton ball or paper towel, fill out the form from Drexel’s website, place it all in a padded envelope, and mail it in. A quick and easy way to contribute to tick-borne disease and tick control solutions.

WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?

Ehrlich’s team is looking for every pathogen and bacteria they can find in the ticks that they are sent. Because science in our area often focuses on Lyme and where it is prevalent, doctors may have tendencies to just look for that sick human. Ticks can carry other pathogens that aren’t as familiar and haven’t been well studied. By using a technique called genetic sequencing, Ehrlich is looking for every bacteria that exists in the tick instead of trying to find specific ones. Baronella and Coxiella are examples of bacteria that a tick can carry and lead to illnesses such as cat-scratch fever or trench fever. By taking the received ticks, testing them, and comparing the information about where and when they were found, the scientists are able to map out the specific illnesses that doctors should test for in each area.

At Mosquito Squad of North Shore, we highly recommend sending your ticks in for testing. The more information learned about where tick-borne illnesses exist, the easier it is for doctors to diagnose and treat illnesses like Lyme, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Powassan virus. The quicker a sickness can be diagnosed and treated, the faster and easier the recovery. Of course, the better solution is eliminating ticks so there is no need for testing. While you may not be able to control ticks everywhere, you can control them on your own property. Let us at help you with tick and mosquito control at home. Our barrier treatment will eliminate 85-90% of ticks and mosquitoes in your yard on contact and continues working for up to three weeks. Call us today to schedule the service that best suits your family’s needs.